We are committed to keeping your e-mail address confidential. We do not sell, rent, or lease our subscription lists to third parties, and we will not provide your personal information to any third party individual, government agency, or company at any time unless compelled to do so by law. We will use your e-mail address solely to provide timely ITU News Updates. ITU will maintain the information you send via e-mail in accordance with applicable law. Our site provides users the opportunity to opt-out of receiving communications from us by reading the unsubscribe instructions located at the bottom of any e-mail they receive from us at anytime. Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter or promotional materials may opt-out of receiving these communications by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

April 25, 2017

Noted expert on artificial intelligence (AI) Stephen Ibaraki last week chaired and presented a keynote address at the United Nations Headquarters New York ITU Briefing on the upcoming AI for Good Global Summit.

Mr Ibaraki, who is helping ITU and XPRIZE Foundation launch the first annual AI for Good Global Summit in June, opened the briefing by updating attendees on the current state of play of AI, pointing to recent developments in tracking poverty using convolutional neural networks and extending medical care through automated diagnosis well as highlighting future areas of greatest opportunity. He was also joined by Amir Banifatemi, AI Lead for XPRIZE, who demonstrated how AI can be used to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The impacts of AI are going to be profound and they are happening faster than most people expect,” said Ibaraki. “Moreover, AI will power the ICTs (information and communication technologies) and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs.”

Participants expressed a high level of interest in the ITU briefing and many requested follow-up presentations on how AI can help accelerate progress on the SDGs.

About the AI for Good Global Summit

To be held from 7-9 June 2017 in Geneva, the AI for Good Global Summit seeks to speed the development of, and access to, AI solutions to address global challenges ranging from poverty, hunger, health and education to equality and environmental sustainability.

Organized by ITU and the XPRIZE Foundation – in partnership with UN agencies, including OHCHR, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNICRI, UNIDO, UNITAR, ILO, WIPO, WHO and UN Global Pulse – the summit will evaluate the opportunities presented by AI with a view to ensuring that AI benefits all of humanity.

The upcoming summit has already attracted significant international attention and support. In addition to the 10+ UN bodies working to make the summit a reality, more than 50 high-profile speakers have committed to participating in the program.